Title
A. J. OSBORN FAMILY
Creator
Lawton E. Osborn, Sr.
Coverage
TOWNSHIP 139N RANGE 96W
Text
A. J. OSBORN FAMILY
Ambrose Joshua Osborn, age 21, left Coldwater, Mich. In early summer 1891, to visit an uncle living in the Gladstone area. After a short time he decided to file on a homestead approximately four miles north of Gladstone having decided this was where he wanted to locate and also being employed by the Gladstone Roller Mill as engineer. Having had some photographic experience in his brother's studio in Coldwater, he purchased the O. S. Goff Studio, established 1891, taking over same in spring 1896. He operated the studio continuously, with the exception of time spent in the Spanish-American War and World War I, until his retirement, 1932.
1897, “Josh”, as his friends called him, was appointed first lieutenant of the First N.D. Volunteers as an officer in Co. K; having assisted in organizing this unit in Dickinson, which was called into service, 1898. They left Camp Merritt, Calif., June 29, 1898, for the Philippine Islands to fight in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection, returning to Dickinson late September 1899.
A. J. Osborn and Kheda F. Saunders were married June 30, 1898. Kheda taught school for several years in Stark Co. at the Dohrmann School. The Dickinson Press story of the wedding made this comment, “Mrs. Osborn was one of Stark County's best teachers, a lady who commands the friendship and respect of all who know her.” Four children were born: Thelma F. (Tad), 1900; Lawton E., 1901; Norman F., 1902 and Clarence Joshua, 1908. All living with the exception of Clarence who died in 1930 as a result of an accident.
“Tad”, now living in Lawton, Okla., married Joseph D. Hoopert of Cincinnati, Ohio. After serving in the Pacific and European theaters during World War II, he was retired as a lieutenant colonel. Lawton married Isabel M. McCannel of Minot, N.D. She was Stark County's first social welfare worker. 1932-33. Lawton became associated with his father in the Osborn Studio, 1921. Norman married Mary Rethwell of Medora and they moved to Ohio where they were employed by the Crosley Corp. doing work for the war effort. Later moving to Coldwater, Mich. Where they operated a store until their retirement.
Major Osborn, as he was called after World War I, served in many capacities in community and civic affairs; served several years as Dickinson's city auditor, helped organize and raise money to build the first National Guard Armory, appointed Liberty Bond Drive chairman in 1917, past exalted ruler of Dickinson Elks Lodge, elected commander of the Veterans of Foreign Affairs and the American Legion posts of Dickinson.
When A. J. retired he turned the studio operation over to his son Lawton, who in turn retired in 1967, turning the operation over to his son, Lawton (Buzz) Osborn, who in 1976 is now operating the studio in the same location, making it the oldest studio in operation in North Dakota, and possibly in the northwest, by the same family of three generations.
Pictures in the early days were all taken by daylight with illumination coming from a skylight; a large area of glass on the northside slanting in towards the camera room. Pictures had to be taken between 9 am and 4 p.m. on clear days because of the long exposures of approximately one second required, due to the slow emulsions on glass plates. Shades and muslin curtains were used on the skylight to control the direction and intensity of light on the subject. Prior to this time the wet plate was used widely, the photographer coated a glass with a collodian solution just prior to taking the picture, then followed the dry plate commercially manufactured, the emulsion being good for approximately six months, followed by the film which was put on an acetate material, and now on a fire-proof or non-explosive and fire-resisting film material.
Exposures were made by trial and error, judging the available light intensity and developed in a dark room, using a ruby red window for inspection during the process, developing one or two plates at a time. Exposures for making prints were made through a sliding door opening or a door in the print room, all processing, handling one print at a time including washing through 12 changes of water from one tray to another. Most old time photographs appear to be stiff looking, and without smiles because of the long exposure required. Prints were dried on blotters or muslin, trimmed, then re-soaked and wet mounted on stiff card mounts with a starch paste.
Flash powder was used in the early 1900's for night pictures or interiors. In the early 1900's, mercury-vapor lamps and carbo-arc was developed as a source of illumination for studio pictures. This was followed by incandescent lighting and fluorescent in the early 1920's, the flash lamps and now the electronic speed lamps or strobe units. Emulsion speeds have been increased to well up into the 1000ths of a second, making photography possible at about any time, any place or any material.
Many western and rodeo pictures have been taken by the Osborns, some including nationally recognized rodeo performers, and have been presented to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame for display.
By Lawton E. Osborn, Sr.
Ambrose Joshua Osborn, age 21, left Coldwater, Mich. In early summer 1891, to visit an uncle living in the Gladstone area. After a short time he decided to file on a homestead approximately four miles north of Gladstone having decided this was where he wanted to locate and also being employed by the Gladstone Roller Mill as engineer. Having had some photographic experience in his brother's studio in Coldwater, he purchased the O. S. Goff Studio, established 1891, taking over same in spring 1896. He operated the studio continuously, with the exception of time spent in the Spanish-American War and World War I, until his retirement, 1932.
1897, “Josh”, as his friends called him, was appointed first lieutenant of the First N.D. Volunteers as an officer in Co. K; having assisted in organizing this unit in Dickinson, which was called into service, 1898. They left Camp Merritt, Calif., June 29, 1898, for the Philippine Islands to fight in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection, returning to Dickinson late September 1899.
A. J. Osborn and Kheda F. Saunders were married June 30, 1898. Kheda taught school for several years in Stark Co. at the Dohrmann School. The Dickinson Press story of the wedding made this comment, “Mrs. Osborn was one of Stark County's best teachers, a lady who commands the friendship and respect of all who know her.” Four children were born: Thelma F. (Tad), 1900; Lawton E., 1901; Norman F., 1902 and Clarence Joshua, 1908. All living with the exception of Clarence who died in 1930 as a result of an accident.
“Tad”, now living in Lawton, Okla., married Joseph D. Hoopert of Cincinnati, Ohio. After serving in the Pacific and European theaters during World War II, he was retired as a lieutenant colonel. Lawton married Isabel M. McCannel of Minot, N.D. She was Stark County's first social welfare worker. 1932-33. Lawton became associated with his father in the Osborn Studio, 1921. Norman married Mary Rethwell of Medora and they moved to Ohio where they were employed by the Crosley Corp. doing work for the war effort. Later moving to Coldwater, Mich. Where they operated a store until their retirement.
Major Osborn, as he was called after World War I, served in many capacities in community and civic affairs; served several years as Dickinson's city auditor, helped organize and raise money to build the first National Guard Armory, appointed Liberty Bond Drive chairman in 1917, past exalted ruler of Dickinson Elks Lodge, elected commander of the Veterans of Foreign Affairs and the American Legion posts of Dickinson.
When A. J. retired he turned the studio operation over to his son Lawton, who in turn retired in 1967, turning the operation over to his son, Lawton (Buzz) Osborn, who in 1976 is now operating the studio in the same location, making it the oldest studio in operation in North Dakota, and possibly in the northwest, by the same family of three generations.
Pictures in the early days were all taken by daylight with illumination coming from a skylight; a large area of glass on the northside slanting in towards the camera room. Pictures had to be taken between 9 am and 4 p.m. on clear days because of the long exposures of approximately one second required, due to the slow emulsions on glass plates. Shades and muslin curtains were used on the skylight to control the direction and intensity of light on the subject. Prior to this time the wet plate was used widely, the photographer coated a glass with a collodian solution just prior to taking the picture, then followed the dry plate commercially manufactured, the emulsion being good for approximately six months, followed by the film which was put on an acetate material, and now on a fire-proof or non-explosive and fire-resisting film material.
Exposures were made by trial and error, judging the available light intensity and developed in a dark room, using a ruby red window for inspection during the process, developing one or two plates at a time. Exposures for making prints were made through a sliding door opening or a door in the print room, all processing, handling one print at a time including washing through 12 changes of water from one tray to another. Most old time photographs appear to be stiff looking, and without smiles because of the long exposure required. Prints were dried on blotters or muslin, trimmed, then re-soaked and wet mounted on stiff card mounts with a starch paste.
Flash powder was used in the early 1900's for night pictures or interiors. In the early 1900's, mercury-vapor lamps and carbo-arc was developed as a source of illumination for studio pictures. This was followed by incandescent lighting and fluorescent in the early 1920's, the flash lamps and now the electronic speed lamps or strobe units. Emulsion speeds have been increased to well up into the 1000ths of a second, making photography possible at about any time, any place or any material.
Many western and rodeo pictures have been taken by the Osborns, some including nationally recognized rodeo performers, and have been presented to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame for display.
By Lawton E. Osborn, Sr.